Challengers Say, 'It's Time For Term Limits' On EP Village Board

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — A slate of challengers running for the Evergreen Park Village Board are banking on residents yearning for new faces and fresh ideas as opposed to the current incumbents, some who’ve served on the village board for decades. The Illinois consolidated election is April 1.

Mayoral challenger William Lorenz, and trustee challengers Terri Daley and Ryan Reitz released a statement Thursday that if elected, one of their first priorities will be to ask voters to decide if they want term limits for their village officials. The three are running with the Evergreen Park Community Party.

Lorenz is challenging Mayor Kelly Burke, who is seeking a second term as mayor. Lorenz served 47 years in the Evergreen Park Fire Department and public works department, including 27 years as the public works director. The mayoral challenger stated the village board was never meant to be a place for career politicians “to feather their own nest.”

“It gets to be where trustees and other elected officials feel they are entitled to their position in government,” Lorenz said. “I assure you, they are not. While I personally strongly believe in term limits, I will trust the voters to make this decision.”

Incumbent trustees Carol Kyle, Norm Anderson and Mark Phelan are running with the EP United Homeowners Good Government slate for another four-year term on the village board. Kyle has been a trustee since 1988, followed by Mark Phelan, who was first elected in 2001, and Norm Anderson, who has served on the board since 2017. Kelly Duffy is running for village clerk, following the retirement of Cathy Aparo.

Terri Daley, an EP Community Party trustee candidate, and a resident of Evergreen Park for 40-plus years, said the village deserves fresh faces to represent them.

“Two of my opponents have been in office since Bill Clinton was president,” Daley said. “Two terms and let someone else serve. Every local government benefits from turnover, fresh faces, and new ideas. In this election, that’s what our slate brings to the table.”

Having the same people in office for decades negatively affects the quality of services delivered by village, trustee challenger Ryan Reitz said.

“One current example is Evergreen Park’s woefully inadequate use of technology,” Reitz continued. “We know in today’s world, technology moves at the speed of light. If elected, we will work with the community and review current processes and procedures and assess where technology can be improved.”

Reitz also took aim at the village’s current website, which he claimed is filled with outdated information. If elected, he and his slate mates will use modern technology to keep residents better informed. Updating technology, Reitz said, will help to more accurately alert residents when there are updates on public safety, traffic issues and other breaking news.

One way is to allow every resident of the village the opportunity to watch and participate in every village meeting.

“Many members of the current [Good Government Party] have been in office for decades, and this is apparent in the technology currently being used,” Reitz added. “Term limits is one way to ensure our elected officials represent the fresh perspective that the newest technology brings.”

Questionnaires have been sent to each village board candidate. Patch will share the answers in the order they are received.